1) Flyers and U.S. Hockey Hall of Famers Mark Howe and John LeClair will be the head coaches at the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects game at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, September 22. Now in its fifth year, this year's installment annual event will feature 42 of the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft.
The participating players will be selected by USA Hockey. Rosters will be announced soon. Through the first four years of the All-American Prospects Game, 74 participating players have been selected in the NHL Draft, including 15 first-round selections. Event alumni include the likes of Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin and Seth Jones.
2) There are 50 days remaining until the start of the 2016-17 regular season; the 50th season of Flyers' hockey (if one includes the NHL's canceled 2004-05 season). The Flyers are putting preseason tickets on sale today.
Historical note: Two players in Flyers history have worn the number 50 during the regular season. Early 1990s defenseman Scott Sandelin (now the head coach of University of Minnesota-Duluth) wore it. So did Ruslan Fedotenko in his NHL debut on October 24, 2000. Thereafter, "Rusty" switched to his more familiar number 26.
3) Yesterday, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms released their
2016-17 regular season schedule. While there are no guarantees of how well a team will come together and the Phantoms forward lineup is decidedly undersized, it would be surprising and disappointing if the team misses the postseason again this upcoming season.
During the offseason, the Flyers organization stocked up both the Phantoms forward core and blueline with high-end AHL offensive talents. Along with the influx of young players both up front and on the blueline -- including 2014 first-round pick Travis Sanheim and second-rounder Nicolas Aube-Kubel -- the Phantoms roster, at least on paper, looks to be the deepest and most talent-laden at every position that it has been since the former Philadelphia Phantoms relocated after the closure of the Spectrum.
4) Today in Flyers History: August 23
1994: The Flyers sign defenseman (later converted to forward) Dan Kordic to a two-year contract extension.
2005: The Flyers sign enforcer Riley Cote, a member of the Philadelphia Phantoms' Calder Cup championship winning 2004-05 squad, as a free agent.
Alumni Birthday: Dave Gardner (1952).
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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